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Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack
Go back to Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack
1937
Wheeling Downs opened for harness racing Other events that happened on or around 1937 Turquoise color was introduced for Fiestaware Louis W. Chappell began field recording of folksongs Garnet was classified as first-class high school Glenville State College received admission to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education "Biggie" Goldberg lead University of Pittsburgh to the national football championship The Model L Gravely tractor was introduced Benjamin Gravely retired from the day-to-day management of the company The National Park Service conducted a survey of the Jefferson County site for the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The U.S. Department of Agriculture began purchasing property in Randolph County to reforest the land and reclaim streams to create Holly River State Park U.S. Army Corp of Engineers constructed a floodwall to protect Huntington from the Ohio The Huttonsville Correctional Center was founded as part of the West Virginia penitentiary system Monsignor Thomas Quirk died Louis Johnson served in the Roosevelt Administration as assistant secretary of war Kenova experienced a disastrous flood The State Labor Federation joined the CIO's new West Virginia state organization Blanche Lazzell returned to Provincetown to study with Hans Hofmann Pare Lorentz shot and edited The River Lost River State Park opened Sam Mallison was hired as head of public relations for the Benedum-Trees Company The Marshall College centennial brought descendants of John Marshall to the campus for the unveiling of a bust of the chief justice Walter Martens completed the Riverview Terrace apartments in Charleston The Appalachian Trail was established The Reber Radio Telescope was originally built by Grote Reber The PSC was given jurisdiction over motor carriers of goods and passengers. Walter Reuther represented 30,000 workers in 76 shops for the United Auto Workers The original 440 sites designated by the Commission on Historic and Scenic Highway Markers were erected The Harrison Rural Electrification Association was established Recreation facilities were opened to the public in Seneca State Forest Flood waters rose in the lower section of the Smoot Theater Sam Snead joined the Professional Golf Association tour Harley Staggers was elected Mineral County sheriff The National Labor Relations Board charged Weirton Steel with unfair labor practices The United Steelworks signed a contract at Wheeling Steel Joe Stydahar was first named to the All-National Football League team DuPont's Belle Works began world production of nylon A large wood mill was built in the Tygart Valley Homesteads The trade center building in Tygart Valley Homesteads was completed The women of Friendly seated an all-female municipal government CCC Camps Seebert and Will Rogers were closed Volkmar Wentzel became a writer and photographer for National Geographic Phil Conley sold the West Virginia Review Harrison Ferrell became dean of West Virginia State College (now University) West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company built a bleached paperboard mill in South Carolina Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Society of International Artists in New York Carter G. Woodson began the publication of The Negro History Bulletin Joseph Newman Alderson became the national WPA director Grote Reber built a telescope with a 31.4-foot diameter parabolic dish in his backyard Katherine Johnson graduated from West Virginia State College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and French Sam Jones won the state marble-shooting championship
1962
A fire ended racing at Wheeling Downs Other events that happened on or around 1962 Citizens in Grafton formed the International Mother's Day Shrine Commission. C&O and B&O merger continues John Hodel became editor of the Beckley Register Clair Bee wrote Comeback Cagers, the last of the Chip Hilton series Betsy Byars published her first book, Clementine Fannie Cobb Carter returned to Charleston West Virginia purchased 11 miles of logging railroad and established Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Charleston's population peaked at 85,796 Franklin Cleckley earned B.A. from Anderson College James Dent began writing the Charleston Gazette's "Gazetteer" column Duncan Yo-Yo Company hit its peak sales with 18 million yo-yos The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation was organized Construction of the government bunker and the simultaneous addition of a new hotel wing were completed at the Greenbrier Davis Grubb wrote Voices of Glory Hawkshaw Hawkins returned to King Records and recorded "Lonesome 7-7203" The state purchased and planned restoration of the former logging town of Cass Joseph Hodges succeeded John Swint as the fifth bishop of the diocese of Wheeling William Hoffman wrote A Place For My Head Interwoven Mills ownership changed Kaymoor mine closed The original Kingwood Tunnel was closed and sealed John Knowles wrote Morning in Antibes William Marland took a job as a Chicago taxi driver to "compose his character" A new dormitory was constructed at Marshall University West Virginia Archeological Society members Delf Norona, Oscar Mairs and Bob White described the May Moore Mound as the third largest in West Virginia J. Kemp McLaughlin was appointed assistant adjutant general with promotion to brigadier general J. Kemp McLaughlin served as Kanawha County commissioner Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was appointed the director of the Department of Mental Health by Governor Barron Plum Orchard Lake was constructed Donald Rasmussen came to West Virginia as associate chief of internal medicine at Miners Memorial Hospital in Beckley Nat Reese was hired as a photographic silk-screen printer at Rockwell International's aviation plant in Princeton Eleanor Roosevelt stopped serving as U.S. representative to the United Nations The C. Z. Ruth Memorial Annex at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg was built to accommodate major services The Sheriff's Succession Amendment was first rejected by legislation WVU Rod Thorn became All-American in basketball Catholic population in West Virginia was 110,000 There were 100 Catholic churches, a new cathedral five hospitals 43 elementary and secondary schools, one college and a preparatory seminary in West Virginia Cyrus Vance became secretary of the army Jerry West set the record for guards with 63 points in one game Dr. Herbert Warden performed the first open-heart surgery in West Virginia Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) received national accreditation Chuck Yeager became commander of the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base Billy Cox moved to Nashville and formed the King Kasuals with Jimi Hendrix
1968
Wheeling Downs reopened Other events that happened on or around 1968 Frederick M. Staunton, publisher of the Charleston Daily Mail, retired Chief Logan State Park gained state park status Denomination adopted the name Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Orval Brown was released from the state mental hospital at Weston Stephen Coonts earned a B.A. at WVU George Crumb was award the Pulitzer Prize for Echoes of Time and the River: Four Processionals for Orchestra Phyllis Curtin sang with the Charleston Symphony Opera Phyllis Curtin was named West Virginian of the year with George Crumb by the Charleston Sunday Gazette Mail Home Demonstration clubs changed name to Extension Homemaker Clubs National attention was brought to the issue of mine safety Fesenmeier sold its brewery to Little Switzerland Brewing Company Two-year associate degree in forestry was developed at Glenville State College Five high schools were consolidated into Gilmer County High School The last Gravely tractor rolled off the Dunbar assembly line Charles Haden served on the Monongalia County Board of Education Roy Lee Harmon wrote Rhymes of a Mountaineer The Modern Budget Amendment made the governor responsible for preparation of the state budget West Virginia's first spring gobbler season began Sonny Hyde transferred to the state Department of Natural Resources to work on Outdoor West Virginia (now Wild Wonderful West Virginia) The Jones Diamond left the Smithsonian to be on exhibition at the State Fair Linsly School relocated to Banes Hall in Wheeling The present entrance to the Lost World Cavers was dug through a hill Joe Manchin's family shoe store burned A new academic building was constructed at Marshall University Enrollment at Marshall University reached 8,177 Irene McKinney received her bachelor's from West Virginia Wesleyan College M. Blane Michael graduated from New York University M. Blane Michael began working at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York R. E. Fisher died leaving the Moorefield paper to Pheobe Fisher Heishman and husband David Mountain Artisans was founded John W. Saunders became president of Beckley College (now Mountain State University) replacing D. K. Shroyer The National Bank of Commerce built a new building known as Commerce Square in Charleston New Vrindaban began as a project of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness The New York Central System merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad to create the ill-fated Penn Central The annual Nature Wonder Weekend was first held in North Bend State Park Nylon precursor chemical stopped being produced at Belle Works Logging on Otter Creek began again Pilgrim Glass Corporation plant manager Karel Konrad introduced cranberry glass Radio station WVWC, licensed to West Virginia Wesleyan College, went on air The last case of polio in West Virginia was reported James Rexrode's works were displayed at the Shenandoah Valley Folklore Society at the Harrisonburg Arts and Crafts Festival Spanky Roberts retired from McClellan Air Force Base The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey conducted another extensive excavation on the St. Albans archeological site David Selby appeared in Dark Shadows James A Butcher became president of Shepherd College (now University) Governor Hulett Smith proposed $150 million bond issue for school construction and state facilities improvement. Grace Martin Taylor retired from Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Norman L. Fagan suggested a Theater West Virginia show based on the Hatfield-McCoy Feud The Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the Methodists forming the United Methodists, becoming West Virginia's biggest denomination There were 240 Evangelical United Brethren Churches in West Virginia, at the time of their merger with the Methodists Kendall Vintroux retired from the Charleston Gazette VISTA volunteers had streamed into rural and hard-pressed areas of West Virginia The WAJR facilities moved to the Greer Building West Virginia counties reasserted their control over economic opportunity commissions and community action programs, as local officials react to War on Poverty WesBanco was incorporated Jon Dragan founded Wildwater Expedition Unlimited at Thurmond Bill Withers was discharged from the U.S. Navy in San Jose Runway expansion for jet airliners began at Kanawha Airport Chuck Yeager became a brigadier general Keith Ham leased 130 acres in Marshall County for the establishment of a rural retreat Nick Saban led the Monongah High School football team to a state championship victory over Paden City High Helen Chilton graduated from Denison University Charleston Section of the National Council of Jewish Women undertook “Appalachian Corridors,” the first exhibition to expressly curate the work of Appalachian artists
1969
Harness racing at Wheeling Downs resumed Other events that happened on or around 1969 Colors antique gold, turf green (avocado) mango red and original red were introduced in fiestaware Francis Ford Coppola filmed The Rain People Davis Grubb published Fools' Parade The Overseas National Airway acquired the Greene Line packet service Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote memoir, Look Back with Love: A Recollection of the Blue Ridge Logan Grade School was constructed on Hatfield Island The federal government recognized pneumoconiosis, black lung, as an occupational disease William Hoffman wrote The Dark Mountains Legislature enacted a new Municipal Code that modernized regulation of cities and towns Ivor Boiarsky helped pass a reorganization of the higher education system Island Creek Coal Company was sold to Armand Hammer of Occidental Petroleum Company John Knowles wrote Phineas: Six Stories Howard B. Lee wrote Bloodletting in Appalachia Maryat Lee published Four Men and a Monster State legislation was passed to allow the Library Commission to make direct grants for operating expenses to libraries complying with its administrative rules James G. Linger sold the Linger Chair factory to the Upshur County Chair and Craft Cooperative Hobert Skidmore died Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company stopped painting new barn signs Jack Maurice became editor-in-chief of the Charleston Daily Mail The Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College began as a branch of Marshall University Greasy Neale was inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame Treasure Mountain Festival was inaugurated The U.S. Navy began operating a major communications center at Sugar Grove An 18-hole golf course opened at Pipestem Resort State Park Public television stations began broadcasting The American Public Health Association conferred its Presidential Award on Donald Rasmussen for exceptional service in the fight against black lung The nursing school at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg closed A new dormitory was completed at the state police academy A P.E. Building was built at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Adjutant General Department estimated West Virginia suffered an estimated 2.75 death rate per 10,000 citizens due to the Vietnam War WCHS-FM went on the air Robert B. Erwin was name director of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company changed its name to Westvaco The Luther Elkins Petroglyph was studied Warren McGraw was elected to the House of Delegates Frankie Yankovic was one of the first two people inducted into the International Polka Association Hall Of Fame in Chicago Virginia Mae Brown was named chairman of the ICC, the first woman to head an independent administrative agency of the federal government Nick Saban graduated from Monongah High School Clyde Ware's first novel, The Innocents was published
1975
Harness racing at Wheeling Downs stopped Other events that happened on or around 1975 Logan County presented its first annual Arts and Crafts Fair Arden Cogar St cut an 8x8 inch horizontal yellow poplar in 7.05 seconds Jack Maurice won the Pulitzer Prize for the editorials he wrote on the Kanawha County Textbook Controversy Georgia-Pacific tore down the Meadow River Lumber Company sawmill at Rainelle M. Blane Michael became a law clerk to Judge Robert Maxwell John Keel first published The Mothman Prophecies Additions were added to the Mount St. George mansion (Vancroft) Otter Creek was designated a wilderness area under the Eastern Wilderness Act by Congress Squire Parsons became the baritone singer for the Kingston Quartet Pendleton Nursing Home was formed Janet Pauley filed a class-action law suit against the Lincoln County school system, alleging children in Lincoln County were not receiving educational opportunities equal to students in richer counties St. Francis Hospital board of directors developed plans for a new patient tower, parking garage, medical office building, and renovations The Grafton Daily Sentinel became the Mountain Statesman John Kelly resigned as state treasurer The Ohio Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation was founded Virginia's Chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places The Watters Smith Memorial State Park expanded due to gift of land by Rachel Smith Hershey A botanist from the state Department of Agriculture resurveyed the state's weeds The federal Eastern Wilderness Act passed West Virginia Northern Community College opened a third campus in New Martinsville Legislature created the West Virginia State Rail Authority A dog racing bill was passed by the state legislature The nursing school at Wheeling Hospital was discontinued Wheeling Hospital moved to a new facility Bob Wise graduated from the Tulane University School of Law Chuck Yeager retired from the Air Force Dennis Harrah was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams football team
1976
Wheeling Downs began dog racing Other events that happened on or around 1976 A craft sales shop was established at the Culture Center in Charleston Ruth Ann Musick published Coffin Hollow It was discovered that Friars Hole Cave connected with Snedegars Cave Glade Creek Mill was dedicated Excavation at Grave Creek Mound by the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey identified a moat surrounding the mound K. K. Hall granted injunctions against a wildcat coal strike The Raleigh Register and Post-Herald of Beckley were sold to Clay Communications Recorded 26 instant libraries serving the residents of West Virginia Corridor E (now I-68) was completed as part of the Appalachian Development Highway system Kanawha Valley Bank moved into the new One Valley Square building Logan County began production of the drama, The Aracoma Story Harley Warrick painted a Mail Pouch sign in the State Museum Three new justices were seated on the five-member court after the general election Kathy Mattea entered WVU Irene McKinney published her first book of poems, The Girl with the Stone in Her Lap New Mennonite Congregation started in Monroe County The Midwives Alliance of West Virginia was founded Alan Mollohan married Barbara Whiting Morgan Morgan's log house was restored by the Berkeley County Historical Society The Morgantown Dominion Post began publishing once a day Two cougars were captured in Pocahontas County The Greenbrier Historical Society moved its museum from the city library to the North House Breece D'J Pancake entered the creative writing program at University of Virginia Jayne Anne Phillips enrolled in the University of Iowa's Writers Workshop A stone was dedicated in Lewisburg to honor Dick Pointer's heroism Pricketts Fort State Park opened during the 1976 Bicentennial Elinor Horwitz wrote Contemporary Folk Artists Otis Rice became book review editor of West Virginia History Soupy Sales hosted ABC's Junior Almost Anything Goes Chris Sarandon was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and a Best Acting Debut Golden Globe Award for Dog Day Afternoon Red Sovine wrote the song "Teddy Bear" Anne Spencer's Lynchburg home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The West Virginia State Farm Museum was started by Walden Roush The Stifel family deeded the Edemar estate to Oglebay Institute for a fine arts center Boyd Stutler's John Brown materials were acquired by the State Archives The Ohio Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation was chartered by the Unitarian Universalist Association Control of the WAJR company was transferred to the Greer family heirs Uncle Homer Walker performed at the Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folklife Charles W. Ferguson II died WesBanco became a bank holding company The Archives and History moved to the Culture Center The West Virginia Department of Culture and History was created by legislature Jim Comstock first tried to sell the West Virginia Hillbilly newspaper The WVSSAC reestablished the girls state basketball tournament The Graham House was added to the National Register of Historic Places Barry Vance moved permanently to West Virginia John Chambers went to work for IBM John McKay became coach of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1994
The West Virginia Lottery Commission approved the first 400 video slot machines at Wheeling Downs Other events that happened on or around 1994 Ohio Valley College expanded The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake was published in Brazilian Portuguese Jayne Anne Phillips published Shelter Jayne Anne Phillips published Shelter The Rural Electrification Administration was abolished Chris Sarandon married Joanna Hall Gleason Michael Smith founded Rocketown Ministries West Virginia became the third state to file suit against the tobacco industry to recover costs for smoking-related illnesses The Tri-State Racetrack installed 400 video lottery slot machines Hinchcliff Lumber Company added a scragg mill Union Carbide's silicones products plant at Sistersville was sold The present Unitarian Universalists building in Charleston was dedicated The United Carbon Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Melvin Lentz became wood chopping champion Ginny Hawker began serving as president of West Virginia State Folk Festival The first open heart surgery in the area was performed at Wheeling Hospital The Howard Long Wellness Center opened at Wheeling Hospital Jesco White was featured in a brief cameo on Roseanne Meredith Sue Willis wrote The Secret Super Powers of Marco Meredith Sue Willis wrote In The Mountains of America Tommy Thompson left the Red Clay Ramblers A bridge on U.S. 19 south of Summerville was renamed the Ralph Eugene Pomeroy Memory Bridge.
2001
Video gambling provided 85% of revenue at Wheeling Downs Other events that happened on or around 2001 The Grange had 400 members in 8 north central and Northern Panhandle counties Congressional redistricting occurred in West Virginia Reported 1, 146 miners in Logan County Circulation of the Department of Agriculture Market Bulletin was at 58,900 Reported female physicians were 18.9% of the total Monongahela Power served about 358,000 electric customers and 24,000 natural gas customers Tourism employed over 79,000 West Virginians
2003
A major expansion was completed at Wheeling Downs Other events that happened on or around 2003 New Hall dormitory at University of Charleston was completed Verizon West Virginia received the Federal Communications Commission's approval to offer long-distance service in West Virginia The Virginian Railway rail yards at Princeton were added to the National Register of Historic Places Jason Wynyard won the wood chopping championship The Coal Association founded Friends of Coal Joseph R. Hacala S.J. became president of Wheeling Jesuit University West Virginia was one of nine states that collectively produced 95% of nation's wind-generated electricity The Yeager Airport terminal was named for Jay Rockefeller Nick Saban coached Louisiana State University to a national championship
2004
There were 2,183 lottery machines at Wheeling Downs Other events that happened on or around 2004 West Virginia crime rate ranked 7th lowest Reported 60% of West Virginia crimes are larceny-theft West Virginia prisoner population had the 6th highest growth rate Unionized labor at 14.2% of the work force Number of farms in West Virginia decreased to 20,800 Circulation of the Hampshire Review was 6,950 Dominion Hope provided natural gas to 439 communities in West Virginia in 32 West Virginia counties The state Supreme Court heard 2,449 cases and issued 159 opinions and 434 orders There were about 100 employees in the Division of Labor The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources listed 17 public fishing lakes and ponds in the state Video lottery sales represented more than 70% of the lottery's total revenue The Department of Mines had 110 employees, including 74 inspectors Circulation of the Dominion Post was 20,454 on weekdays and 24,192 on Sundays Total circulation of West Virginia newspapers was 781,753 There were 161 commercial sawmills in West Virginia Michael Smith had 29 number-one songs, five platinum records and 13 gold records Reported enrollment at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College was 2,580 The student population at West Liberty was 2,375 There were 2,837 students enrolled at West Virginia Northern Community College West Virginia State University had 2,482 students enrolled There were 1,356 students at Wheeling Jesuit University Circulation of the Wonderful West Virginia was 40,000 View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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